Prospect GP: April Waiver/Claims Recap (Patreon)

seanm23 DROPS Faridun Odilov, ADDS Diego Bianchini
I scouted Bianchini four years ago and then went on to lose his next fight to a 7-6 opponent. The problem with him in the past was the guys he was fighting. He did fight a tough guy in his LFA debut and looked the best he's ever looked. Bianchini is a wild fight that comes in with a karate stance and throws a ton of flashy kicks. Although he can be a too much he throws with everything in him. He's also got a tricky ground game. He's very dangerous but I'm still not convinced he's a top prospect. If he can put it together and his gas tank holds up he'll be very good.

CaptnKbec DROPS Colton Loud, ADDS Tommy McMillen
McMillen trains out of the MMA Lab and has had guys like Sean O'Malley in his corner. From what I've seen he's a better wrestler/grappler but has been rounding out his overall game on the feet. His striking has looked good in the clips I've seen. There is a lot unknown but there were a few people who wanted him and that has to mean something.

MajestyMMA DROPS Matthew Byfield, ADDS Luis Elias
This is the second time Elias has been picked up in the re-draft. Elias is a dog coming out of Mexico. He's a cerebral striker that attacks every part of the body. He does a great job mixing up his striking patterns and keeping his opponent guessing. Elias is constantly throwing in at least two. He'll go hook to the body to a leg kick and loves to go body-head. With how dangerous his striking is he has a slick submission attack. He showed that a few fights ago hitting a calf slicer. Not sure of the level he's at with the guys he's been beating but he gives me Daniel Barez vibes.

AndersonGold DROPS Sean Mora, ADDS Luca Borando
Borando is a much better pick than Mora. Borando isn't someone that gonna blow anyone away with his technical ability. What he brings to the table is durability, damaging blows, and non-stop pressure. His style is marching forward letting his hands go from all areas. He has a controlled chaos style. He's also good at getting knee traps and blasting with elbows. Borando is someone I've gotten to like a lot because of how he fights. He's the type of fighter you'd wanna put money on.

Jacomalfoy1 DROPS Andres Luna Martinetti, ADDS Matt Dixon
I was high on Dixon a few years ago but lost on the contender series to shitty Orion Cosce. He took about three years off and did get a win but against 5-7 dude that looked like he was 64. His stand-up is very good with his hands and kickboxing. His concerns is his cardio and ability to overcome any adversity. I'm still convinced he's a bum until he proves me otherwise.

Phre DROPS David Mora, ADDS Khuseyn Shaykhaev
Shaykhaev was a smart move since he's out of his ACA contract and about to make his LFA debut. He hasn't fought since the end of 2021 and it's probably because of his ACA contract. Shaykhaev has improved his striking but his wrestling/grappling is where he's best. The Russian is an excellent wrestler and an even better grappler. His record doesn't actually show how much of a threat his GNP is but it's probably his best weapon. Their is no secret to his style and it's still been impossible to stop him.

PatDannaMMA DROPS John Caldone, ADDS James Hendin
Hendin has been someone I've watched for years. He's another one that won't blow you away with anything he does. He wins off his grit and determination. He is a smart fighter who sticks with a gameplan. He has lost both times he's fought top guys so his ceiling isn't too high. Hendin did just sign with Oktagon so the UFC is even farther away compared to when he was in Cage Warriors.

Cheese DROPS Leo Brichta, ADDS Akonne Wanliss
Wanliss is getting picked up after being dropped and it is a better pick than Brichta. Wanliss is a physical specimen at lightweight as he shredded and huge for the weightclass. He's a talented guy that's well-rounded but his cardio is concerning. He's dangerous early because he's fresh but as the fight goes he tends to make mistakes in the fight. If he was to work on his cardio he'd be a big problem because he's good everywhere. I'm concerned that he's worried more about his social media than he is about his fighting career.

Mootyy DROPS Abdalla Biayda, ADDS Robbie Ring
Dropping Biayda was smart since he lost but Ring is a proven flawed fighter. Ring has an opportunity last season on the contender series. He lost to Luis Pajuelo who was one of the worst fighters I've scouted and Ring was destroyed. He is 23 so their is time to improve but it's gonna take a lot of time. He should beat this dude he's fighting next but Ring is just good enough to beat bums.

FBonada DROPS Michelle Montague, ADDS Ger Harris
I've had doubts on Harris recently but after his last fight I feel good about him as a prospect again. Harris is a former IMMAF world champion with a ton of success as an amateur. In his loss as a pro he was taken down at ease, controlled on the mat, and slowed down later in the fight. I do think his cardio is fine but the two other things still need worked on. Harris is a well-rounded fighter. He's a combination striker that puts his hands together quite well. He's got good vision and mixes up every tool in the box.

Idonaldo DROPS Rose Conceicao, ADDS Chad Griffiths

RWHockeyJohn DROPS Matheus Camilo, ADDS Sean Gauci
Gauci is probably close to the UFC with a win here defending his HEX bantamweight title. He has a win over UFC flyweight Steve Erceg which is a fantastic win. Over his last few fights it's his striking that's stood out.  Gauci sits in the pocket and shows good boxing with the jab, attacking the body and countes very well. He has deceptive power and a ground game when needed. I'll say Camilo is a better prospect but he just had surgery so he'll be out for a while.

David492 DROPS Magomed Magomedov, ADDS Soo Young Yoo
I don't understand this pick. Yoo could get on RTU but he's not good enough to win. Magomedov has developed into a solid prospect and has a way high ceiling then Yoo.

CangrejoRuiz  DROPS Bradley Swanepoel, ADDS Wes Schultz
Schultz has looked good since losing to Dylan Budka last year. He's better than I initially though as he can be a possible UFC middleweight in the future. On the feet he is awkward but is tricky and throws a dangerous head kick. Although his takedown defense is an issue he's dangerous off his back. Working front head locks, kimura, and triangles his work rate off his back is nice. An underrated pick here in the re-draft.

AyyLmaonnaise DROPS Abdul Azim Badakshi, ADDS Amari Sengsavanh
Sengsavanh deserves to be on a roster and he's so much better than Badakshi. If you'd look at Sengsavanh and know of his wrestling background you'd be surprised he's getting it done on the feet. Sengsavanh is an unorthodox striker but has a ton of power of his hands and throws damaging knees. He has the type of power that can change a fight with one punch and at 135 it's impressive. All I'm missing is better competition before I'm sold.

ncdfz DROPS James Ford, ADDS Griffin Parriott
Parriott is a legit wrestler who had a career as a college wrestler at Purdue. He's coming off a loss and kinda got exposed. Once he faced adversity he had nothing outside of getting takedowns. He's uncomfortable on the feet and lacks jiu-jitsu and movement. Not a great pick in my opinion but he can be good if he grows his skillset.

baremaras DROPS Magnus Conrado, ADDS Luciano Pereira 
I had Pereira but dropped him last month cause I'm in doubt the UFC is looking at him after missing weight on the contender series. He's still a very good prospect. At 125 "El Torito" packs one hell of a punch, kick, and ground and pound. He will just march forward throwing bomb after bomb. Not too much technique but it flashes. His ground game altogether has looked competent. He is moving up to bantamweight for this fight so it will be interesting to see how he looks.

huddygelfand DROPS Sem Kakembo, ADDS Justin Van Heerden
This was an ideal switch since Heerden is probably a win away from a UFC call-up. I've known of Heerden for years and I've never been impressed. If he was to get to the UFC he'd struggle to even get a win. It's still a good decision because he likely wins his next fight and a UFC shot is a real possibility.

Barrelelapierna DROPS Alejandro Gomez, ADDS Ollie Sarwa
I didn't know of Sarwa before this so I watched his fights. He does struggle with takedown defense and on the mat. His striking is good but it's more so his power. He has knockout power. I'm not sold because he hasn't proved himself against anyone credible.

bigbirdph DROPS Nkosi Ndebele, ADDS Bailey Schoenfelder
Drafting Schoenfelder is both smart and risky. It's smart cause Schoenfelder is a good wrestler which is a useful tool at heavyweight. He likely beats a lot of heavyweights on the regional scene. It's dangerous because his striking defense sucks just being a slow moving target.